Respiratory protection in the workplace protects employees from hazardous gases, vapors, oxygen deficiency, and airborne particles. If your municipality has sanitary sewers, water treatment facilities, confined spaces, or emergency services you must have a site-specific written respiratory protection program. This should include a respirator selection process, employee training records, employee medical evaluation reports, fit test results, filter change schedules, hazardous atmospheres evaluations, and program evaluations. The employer must keep these records on file and available for employees, representatives, and inspectors to review upon request.
There are two major classes of respirators: Air-purifying respirators that remove contaminants from the air and Atmosphere-supplying respirators that provide clean, breathable air from an uncontaminated air supply. Respirators can be either tight-fitting or loose-fitting. Tight-fitting respirators include filtering facepieces, half masks, and full facepieces that don’t completely cover the head. Loose respirators are hoods or helmets that cover the head completely. All respirators used in the workplace must be approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Respirators protect workers from a wide variety of hazardous environments. They enable employees to safely work around harmful dust, fogs, smokes, fumes, gases, vapors, and sprays. Without proper respiratory protection, many airborne hazards can cause cancer, lung impairment, other diseases, and even death.
OSHA and the Oklahoma Department of Labor PEOSH division require that all employees be fully trained on respiratory protection before they begin work with their respirator. Before they begin training, they must first pass a medical evaluation. Because respirators can make breathing difficult or induce feelings of claustrophobia, not everyone can wear a respirator. Respiratory impairment, cardiovascular impairment, anemia, epilepsy, punctured eardrums, diabetes, and vision problems can all prevent a worker from using a respirator. Medical evaluations must be performed by a qualified medical professional in a confidential setting. After employees have passed their medical evaluations, they must be trained on the specific hazards that their respirator protects against, and how to properly clean, maintain, and dispose of their respirator or exchangeable filters. Employees must be given a fit test to ensure their respirator is the correct size and forms an adequate seal. They must also be trained on how to properly wear their respirator, including how to put it on, take it off, and check the fit. Retraining must be performed every year or if an employee shows inadequate knowledge of the respiratory protection program.
Here are some basic respiratory protection tips: Workers who use respirators should always inspect their respirator and perform a seal check before every use. Employees should be trained on and adhere to their municipality’s filter replacement schedule. Many filters have a color-changing end of service life indicator that alert the user when filters must be changed. Common signs of respirator failure include strange chemical smells or tastes, burning sensation in the eyes, nose, or throat, feelings of dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing, or noticeable hot air inside the respirator. If a worker experiences any of these symptoms, they should leave the area immediately, remove the respirator, and wait to see if the symptoms improve. If the symptoms improve, they should perform a full inspection and seal check before re-entering the work area. If the symptoms persist, they should leave the area and inform their supervisor that their respirator is not working properly.
Remember, employees must be protected from hazardous atmospheres and airborne contaminants. Before receiving a respirator, employees must pass a medical evaluation, receive complete and proper training, and understand how to fully inspect their respirator, and keep it clean and properly maintained. Filters must be changed according to the respirator maintenance schedule. Finally, employees must be able to recognize the signs of respirator failure and know how to safely get themselves away from hazardous materials before removing their masks. They must also remember to report any failures or malfunctions to the supervisor immediately after an incident.
